47. Waverly
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
WAVERLY
I stare at him for long moments, processing the words he just said.
If what he’s saying is true, then he knew who I was the night I started at the Scarlet Lounge, so why didn’t he say anything?
Or at least one of the other times we’ve seen each other since then?
It seems like kind of an important detail that he’s left out, and I can’t work out why he wouldn’t tell me who he was.
I hated my father. He had no love for me, and he used me as his personal slave and punching bag at every opportunity. I was happy when he died, and I’m not too proud to admit that.
So why wouldn’t he tell me?
“There’s more,” he says, flicking his eyes to his twin with uncertainty, but Kade gives him a nod, telling him to go on with whatever he’s about to tell me. “I was the one that got you the new ID. I tried to leave you alone after I made sure you got settled in okay, but I knew it was only a matter of time before someone found you while you were still using your father’s name.”
My mouth drops open, but I can’t so much as think through a response, let alone get one out. Everything he’s saying is insane, but I still can’t grasp why he wouldn’t tell me.
Kade sighs and sits up, shooting his brother an annoyed look. “What my brother is pussyfooting around is that he’s kept you safe all these years. He killed people that tried to hurt you. He made sure our father was never able to get wind of where you were, and I helped him, even when he didn’t know I was lurking in the shadows as well.”
Okay, I know he didn’t just tell me the two of them have been stalking me for a decade.
Because if he was telling me that, I’d be locked in an apartment with murderers who have just admitted to keeping me safe all these years.
What do they want from me? Do they expect me to fall at their feet for all they’ve done? Because they have another thing coming if that’s the case.
What the fuck kind of situation have I found myself in? And how the hell do I get myself out of it?
“I don’t understand,” I whisper, not trusting my voice not to show the fear thrumming through my veins.
Despite their admissions, I don’t think they’re going to hurt me. Why would they both help me all these years if they would just turn around and kill me now that I know their secret? That would be kind of counterproductive…right?
Emmett pushes himself off the bed and carefully moves toward me. Each step he takes is non-threatening, and yet the urge to flee gets stronger with every step. “That night when you asked if I killed your father and you were grateful I did, I knew there was something about you that I wouldn’t be able to walk away from. But I tried. I swear I did. When I tracked you down the first time, it was to make sure you were safe and that no one was on your trail. I always intended to leave you be once I was sure you were okay. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave you defenseless.”
“And him?” I ask quietly, nodding toward Kade, who’s now sitting on the edge of the bed with his elbows resting on his knees.
He chuckles. “Well, my story isn’t quite as noble as Emmett’s, but then I don’t think that should come as much of a surprise. I was there that night as well. I watched my brother help you over that fence, and although I should have told my father straight away that Emmett had helped you escape, because you were, and probably still are, a very hot commodity in his eyes, I didn’t. I didn’t sell either of you out, even though it is very much in my nature to do exactly that.
“We grew up in a dog-eat-dog world. I’ll be happy to tell you more about that later, but all you need to know for the moment is that Emmett and I were often pitted against one another. We were forced to fight one another at every opportunity. My first gunshot wound came from Emmett. But when it came to you, I couldn’t betray him like that.
“I went back to my father and told him that Emmett was on his way back and was held up looking for you because you were missing. Up until that night, I had never lied to our dad, but since then, that’s all I’ve done.”
I stare at him as I process what he’s just told me. At this point I’m happy to assume they grew up to be assassins. That would make sense given Emmett killed my dad, and Kade was there, along with gunshot wounds and everything else he just told me. But that still doesn’t explain why either of them felt the need to save me and then continue saving me all these years.
All this time I thought I was living on my own two feet. I thought I was surviving on my own, keeping myself safe, taking precautions to make sure no one found me.
But that was all a lie.
Because I’ve had two men standing in the shadows of my life, and now it seems they no longer want to remain in the shadows.